You Are Never Too Old to Dream-Reflections on Turning 91
As I approach my 91st birthday, I find myself returning to a simple truth: you are never too old to dream. Not at 60. Not at 75. Not at 90. And certainly not at 91.
Dreaming, I’ve learned, is not something reserved for the young. It is a life force, an ember that refuses to go out as long as we continue to breathe, imagine, hope, and care.
Over the years, I’ve lived through chapters I never predicted:
A long, meaningful career at the FDA and from three other Non-Federal organizations.
A role in the aftermath of 9/11, helping at a time of national heartbreak.
A blogging journey that began in 2009 and continues to this very day.
Becoming a great-grandfather—twice!
And navigating the challenges of aging, including Stage 4 kidney disease, with honesty, courage, and humor.
And here I am, still dreaming.
Dreams Change, But They Do Not Disappear
When we are young, dreams often involve the future, careers, families, accomplishments, travel, goals that stretch out years ahead. But at 91, dreams take on a different, deeper shape.
Today, I dream of:
Time with the people I love.
Sharing stories that help others reflect on their own lives.
Living with grace, gratitude, and curiosity.
Continuing to write blogs that inspire my senior readers.
Leaving behind words that will comfort my family when I am gone.
And yes, dreaming of simple joys: a good massage, a bright morning, a warm conversation, a new gadget to explore (smartwatches included!), or learning something fascinating about Filipino food, culture, or history. Or Winning or Losing in Bridge and Mahjong here at THD.
We never stop dreaming unless we choose to. And I haven’t chosen to stop.
Dreaming Keeps Us Alive
Every week, I hear from my readers, many seniors themselves who say:
“I’m too old to start something new.”
“I wish I had done this earlier.”
“It’s too late for me.”
But it is never too late.
If I can still write, learn, discover, laugh, and dream at 91, so can you.
Dreams are not measured by their size or outcome. They are measured by the life they breathe into our days.
A Lifetime of Dreams Fulfilled and Still Dreaming
As I reflect on nine decades of life, I don’t measure my years by wealth or status or how many things I checked off some imaginary list. I measure them by relationships, health (as best as I can hold on to it), accomplishments, and the family that now spans four generations.
My life has not been perfect, but it has been meaningful. And that, I believe, is the real dream of every human being.
So, To My Senior Readers…
Whether you’re 65, 75, 85, or 95: Keep dreaming. Start a project. Pick up a hobby.
Write your story. Learn a technology (AI Apps) your grandchildren use. Travel if you can.
Love deeply. Hope boldly. And above all, wake up each morning believing that something good is still possible.
If turning 91 has taught me anything, it is this:
Dreaming is not something you grow out of. It is something you grow into.
And as long as there is breath in us, there is more to imagine, more to give, more to experience, and more to dream.
- "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." – Walt Disney
- "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." – Eleanor Roosevelt
- "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." – Henry David Thoreau
- "To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." – Henri Frederic Amiel
- "Every great dream begins with a dreamer." – Harriet Tubman
- "A dream doesn\'t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work." – Colin Powell
- "Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." – Earl Nightingale
- "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly." – Langston Hughes
- "You have to dream before your dreams can come true." – A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
- "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." – Henry David Thoreau
https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2018/01/my-fulfilled-and-unfulfilled-childhood.html
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